Highly technical and extremely fast: Saudi racetrack to test F1 drivers' abilities again

Formula 1 is readying for the second race of the 2023 season, with the circus setting up camp in the Middle Eastern country of Saudi Arabia.

Now in its third running since first appearing in 2021, the race gives drivers a unique challenge as it blends high speeds with very technical sections. Like Monaco, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit is a keep-your-wits-about-you street circuit, ready to punish the smallest mistake.

While the circuit is technically demanding, it is one of the fastest ones on the calendar, second only to Monza in Italy, which is rightfully dubbed 'The Temple of Speed'. Around Jeddah, average speeds are around 250km/h, also making it the fastest street circuit on the calendar.

The race takes place in the evening, joining the likes of Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore as F1's night races.

Why a street circuit?

Races in the Middle East have become quite popular on the F1 calendar, with these heralding and concluding an F1 season in recent years. while Bahrain has become the new season-opener (replacing Australia), Jeddah has become the next race to test drivers' mettle. And despite being dubbed a dangerous race, it presents a unique challenge - every time!

The chase for this unique challenge motivated the track designers, the Tilke company, to find the best possible layout around the coastal resort of Corniche.

Former F1 managing director Ross Brawn said of the Jeddah circuit: "What we want to see is a race circuit. We don't want Mickey Mouse circuits. We don't want those old classic street circuits with 90-degree turns. We want fast, sweeping circuits, circuits which are going to challenge the drivers – and they are going to love it."

Brawn retired in 2022 after serving F1 for 46 years.

The Jeddah Corniche Circuit